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Armando, and parents/inlaws/partners, Ana Lara and Carlos Valdivieso. (They also own and operate La Terraza Rum & Lounge, 3003 Kavanaugh Blvd., in Little Rock’s Hillcrest district.) “We’ve started to slowly change and add some of our touch to the recipes,” she explains. Right now that’s mostly “implementing new weekly specials of our own creation,” but ultimately they’re looking at serving more traditional Italian entrees, something Graffiti’s has gotten away from over the years. Their goal is to have an updated menu by January; some recipes will remain the same, but “the preparation techniques will be improved in order to maximize the experience and flavor of the dishes.” Details? “We haven’t gotten that far yet,” she admits, noting that her husband and in-laws control the kitchen while she handles the front of the house. She’s introducing a new wine list, and is planning, as the list changes every three weeks or so, more of a focus on Italian wines. The restaurant hours are 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The phone number is (501) 224-9079.
In our continuing mission to uncover the target opening dates of area Popeye’s, we found a pending Popeye’s at 12201 Maumelle Blvd., North Little Rock, just south of the Maumelle city limits. Franchisee Danny Gililland of Sweet “P” Enterprises did not return our calls by deadline, but the building’s exterior appears to be nearing completion. We had also hoped Gililland would be able to fill us in on the opening date for the Popeye’s at 824 Broadway, Little Rock, the site of a former Back Yard Burgers kiosk, but it appears that restaurant belongs to a different franchisee.
Just around the corner from that Maumelle Boulevard address, The Maumelle Hub,a smoothie and juice bar, has opened at 13300 Crystal Hill Road, North Little Rock. It’s not, we’re told, affiliated with The Nutrition Hub on Cantrell Road in Little Rock. Hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number listed on the Facebook page, facebook.com/ TheMaumelleHub, is (501) 999-1234, but after two days of trying earlier this week, all we got was a busy signal.
The Greenbrier Times Facebook page (facebook. com/greenbriertimes) notes several restaurants pending along Broadview Street/U.S. 65 in Greenbrier, including a Burger King on the lot that once upon a time housed a post office, across from the Taco Bell/ Conoco-Phillips station at 4 N. Broadview. Greenbrier is also expecting — all still in planning stages, according to the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce — a Western Sizzlin Express at 43 S. Broadview (that Facebook page, tinyurl.com/ yddorjb4, has photos of three smiling adults and a baby in front of the “sold” sign) and, according to the Times page, a Steak ’n Shake also on South Broadview, across the street from a family medical clinic and a fitness center.
And speaking of burgers, The Flying Burger, 1898 E. University St., Magnolia, with an outlet at 704 S. Timberlane Drive in El Dorado, is opening another “branch office” on Arkansas 7 — the Facebook page, tinyurl.com/yapsl4da, shows a “Flying Burger & Seafood” sign that says it’s in Arkadelphia; however, a state Health Department permit, filed in May, lists the street address as 107 Valley St., Caddo Valley.
The North Little Rock franchise of Sam’s Southern Eatery, 613 E. Broadway, just off the Broadway exit off Interstate 30, changed its name about a month ago to Shrimpy. Little else, including the menu, appears to have changed. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The phone number is (501) 414-0123.
Tulsa-based Hideaway Pizza says it’ll open its second Arkansas outlet at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 in the Lewis Crossing Shopping Center, 1170 S. Amity Road, Conway, and the first 57 people through the front door get a free lunch and a Hideaway swag bag (including a $57 gift card, Hideaway apparel, coupons and other promotional items). The “57” reflects the 1957 founding of the company, which operates 18 restaurants in Arkansas and Oklahoma (a North Little Rock location opened in October 2016). The 7,162-squarefoot building will have seating for 214. They’ve evidently obtained a private club license so they can serve on-tap craft beer from area brewers. Hours will be 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. And they’re still hiring servers, cooks, bartenders and support staff. Apply online at hideawaypizza.com.
We have an update on the status of Captain Hooks Fish & Chicken, 6725 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, next to Indian Hills Shopping Center. The restaurant build-in is in progress and it’s expected to open sometime in the next two months, even though the building, which most recently had housed a Dunkin Donuts/ Baskin Robbins hybrid, is indeed up for sale. Matt Strom, agent with Flake & Kelley Commercial, which is co-brokering the sale with Charleston, S.C.-based Sands Investment Group, explains that the tenants are not the owners. We previously reported that Mohammed Yafai of North Little Rock, the business partner of the owner-manager of a similarly named restaurant in Stuttgart, had filed incorporation papers in 2016 with the state secretary of state’s office and has taken out a trademark with the federal government. SIG has listed the 3,003-squarefoot restaurant at $800,000, noting, via its website, “Tenant Recently Spent Over $100,000 in Rehabbing, Facelift, New Pumps, Lights, Flooring, Signs and Rebranding.”
Most of the 11 craft breweries, two wineries and one distillery in central Arkansas participating in the Little Rock and North Little Rock convention and visitors bureaus’ Locally Labeled adult beverage passport program will hand out free samples and sell, where legal, their products at the Locally Labeled in Greater Little Rock second anniversary party, 5:30-7:30 p.m. today in the River Market Pavilions, 400 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock. The Brian Nahlen Band will perform. Start a passport, collect three stickers and get a special Locally Labeled plastic cup. So far, people from 22 states — and a fellow from Norway, who visited 10 of the 14 venues — have completed a passport, which entitles them to redeem special prizes. Admission is free; you must be 21 or older to enter (photo ID required). Visit LittleRock.com.
Mark Abernathy (Loca Luna and Red Door) and Jeff Voskamp, owner of several Arkansas Wendy’s outlets, have teamed with 100 Black Men of Pulaski County on a program to introduce groups of 25-35 black teenagers to the restaurant business. On Nov. 4, the first group will spend time behind the scenes at Abernathy and Voskamp’s restaurants getting an introduction into the industry.
Area chefs have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to submit a 1- to 2-minute video that demonstrates their passion for cooking for the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Tech Foundation and the UA-Pulaski Tech Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Institute’s 2018 Diamond Chef Arkansas competition. You can vote for your favorite videos on the Diamond Chef Facebook page (which “goes live” on Monday) through Nov. 6. The top 10 vote-getters will prepare a dish for executive chefs and competition sponsors at a private “Makin’ the Cut” cocktail party Nov. 13. Well, not quite private. It will stream on Facebook Live; tune in and comment for a chance to win two tickets to the April 19 finale — six finalists competing against 2017 winner Mary Beth Ringgold of Capers, Copper Grill and Cajun’s Wharf. Qualifications, terms and conditions are available online at uaptc.edu/ diamondchefcontest.
Lake Charles, La.-based food delivery service Waitr has started a “Share Thanksgiving” food drive, via its app, giving users the option to donate toward helping feed a family in their community. Click on the designated “Donate a Meal” button after you order and select a dollar amount, $2$10. Waitr and its participating restaurant partners will match a portion and Waitr will deliver free hot meals prepared by local restaurants during Thanksgiving week. The app is available via the website, waitrapp.com, for iPhone and Android devices.
And, restaurateurs, since folks every year seek restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving, please let us know — email eharrison@arkansasonline.com — if you’re serving that day. Include your street address, hours of service, specials or menu details and the phone number the public can contact for information or reservations. Has a restaurant opened — or closed — near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203. Send email to: